Following are some highlights from February, as well as upcoming offerings in March and early April. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend any/all that would feed and enrich your spiritual journey
The NAECED/NOERC Conferences in Charlotte, NC
I was invited to participate on a panel re: resource centers and the 21st century for NOERC (National Organization of Episcopal Resource Centers) in early February. VTS’ Center for Ministry of Teaching renewed their commitment to partner with CST to help categorize and load the vast number of resources we have on the CSR website, and Henry Carnes, M.Div., Director of Education and Training for the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and Vice President of NOERC, is going to be an ongoing source of technical assistance and mentorship. He has catalogued more than 20,000 resources for that diocese, and has accomplished much more than I have room to share here. That is also where Ruth Ann Collins, Office of Adult Formation for The Episcopal Church (as did two other members of Katherine JS’s staff), had an opportunity to hear what we’re developing through CSR and voiced tremendous support and encouragement. We had about a dozen representatives from WNC attend the conference, including Bishop Taylor. I look forward to continuing to cultivate valuable relationships as I serve as the NOERC liaison for next year’s NAECED (National Association of Episcopal Christian Education Directors) conference in New Orleans in 2012.
Visioning Day, All Saints’ Community, Franklin NC.
I had the honor of facilitating this community’s visioning day on February 13. They dreamed big, and they dreamed locally. Everyone present was engaged and inspired, and their community will be transformed by their collective vision and commitment. My liaison from Franklin wrote, “I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our time together yesterday. Who knew we have so many talents (assets)? ... You opened our eyes in order that we might see our rich assets and how combining them will allow us to accomplish great things in our parishes and beyond. You even helped us with a step-by-step approach to ensure success. Your examples were wonderful. You have ignited the flame within us and now it’s up to us to fan that flame. Action has begun. ... We’ll keep you informed of our progress. Again, thank you for investing your time in us.” If you would like to read our diocesan strategic plan, visit diocesewnc.org and click on “Strategic Plan” in the right-hand column on the home page. Thanks to Jim Armfield for the Visioning Day photos.
2011 Day with the Bishop: The Changing Shape of the Work of Clergy and Laity
- St. Luke’s, Lincolnton NC,
- Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m. –3 p.m.
- $25 (includes lunch and morning hospitality)
This day will provide an opportunity to reflect with Bishop Taylor on how we have experienced shifts in the roles and responsibilities of both the clergy and laity in parishes over the past several decades. Does each order of ministry realize the changes that have occurred in the other? What changes may yet be needed to be more responsive to our tradition and the evolving realities of parish life and the mission field in our communities?
We have changed the format this year for these gatherings with Bishop Taylor. We have asked the communities where the day will be hosted to gather together and discern what topic most matters to the community. Once the topic has been selected, the organizing team then invites interested clergy and members of the community to participate on a discussion panel. The afternoon small-group breakouts will allow everyone an opportunity to share thoughts, insights, questions, and reflections around the topic and the morning panel discussion.
The morning will feature a discussion panel made up of clergy, laity, and Bishop Taylor, followed by lunch. The afternoon will include time for small-group discussion, and then regathering for a closing reflection from Bishop Taylor.
You can register at thecsr.org. For questions, contact Robbin Whittington at 828-274-2681, or robbin@allsoulscathedral.org.
Wellness as a Spiritual Path: The Integration of Mind-Body-Spirit Retreat with Elaine Sullivan.
- Monday, March 28, 2011, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Cathedral of All Souls
- Cost: $45: includes morning hospitality, lunch, and the latest edition of the Wellness Workbook: How to Achieve Enduring Health and Vitality by John W. Travis, M.D.
This one-day workshop retreat is for anyone who is interested in spirituality and wellness on their own journey, as well as anyone working in a healing profession: chaplains, therapists, physicians, clergy, spiritual directors, Stephen ministers, and nurses.
Elaine will guide us as we explore the multiple aspects of wellness and how telling our personal stories helps integrate mind, body, and spirit. Elaine is an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of wellness with more than 30 years of experience with integrating spirituality and wellness. We will learn new ways to help ourselves, and our clients, patients, or congregational members approach wellness from a spiritual as well as a physical perspective; and new ways of tending to the Soul in our day-to-day lives. For more information, visit thecsr.org, or contact Robbin at 828-274-2681 or robbin@allsoulscathedral.org.
“Day of Repentance and Restoration” service.
Saturday, April 9, at Trinity, Asheville. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to preach. For more information, visit the diocesan website at diocesewnc.org.
Italy Pilgrimage.
We have decided to offer this pilgrimage in 2012 in order to allow an opportunity for our community to more deeply explore what it means to be a pilgrim and ways in which we can collectively embrace the pilgrimage as a faith community.
Robbin Whittington, Director
robbin@allsoulscathedral.org
www.thecsr.org